Too early to measure impact of improvements at Oakhill STC, say inspectors
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Inspectors have welcomed improvements to support for young people at Oakhill Secure Training Centre (STC) but warned that "it is too soon” to establish whether they are leading to better care for children.
Inspectors visiting the Milton Keynes STC also noted that while levels of violence and the use of force had recently reduced, they “are still high”.
Last year the STC was issued with an urgent notification of improvement due to “unlawful” levels of force being used by staff on children. This followed inspectors rating its support as “inadequate”, saying the establishment “barely met minimum standards of human decency”.
Following their visit in May the joint inspection team, including health, Ofsted and prisons inspectors, noted that there is now far greater mixing of children and restrictions on their movements have been relaxed.
This “is helping to gradually reduce tensions and fights between children,” said the inspection team in its report.
The effective management of children’s admissions and early days in custody are “managed well” which offers “reassurance and reduces children’s anxieties".
Although plans to refurbish the building are delayed, they are continuing, inspectors found.
“The houses that have been completed provide children with a softer and less institutionalised living environment,” state inspectors.
“The showers in children’s rooms that have been repaired prevent water overflowing onto their bedroom floors. Children are aware of the refurbishment programme, and those living in houses where work remains to be done are eagerly waiting for it to commence.
“Children’s bedrooms are generally much cleaner and tidier than at the last inspection,” according to the report.
Among further improvements recommended by inspectors is the STC’s handling of children’s complaints. While these are addressed “promptly” work is needed to ensure the tone and content of responses are more child friendly.
Inspectors found that children spend 13 hours a day outside their rooms during the week and 12 hours at weekends, which has increased since inspectors last visited.
But they raise concerns around the rationale at the STC for locking children in their bedrooms for an hour during the day at weekends. This appears to be an accepted routine part of the day which has not been questioned, despite impinging on time for visits to children.
Other concerns include the “uncomfortably warm” rooms that are “compounded by poor ventilation and insufficient circulation of fresh air”.
During their previous visit, in November and December last year, the joint inspection team noted improvements to safeguarding had been made but warned that “fragility remains” at Oakhill.
Michelle Price, director for Oakhill STC, said: “We are pleased to see that Ofsted has recognised the significant improvements we have made in delivering good outcomes in education, health and resettlement.
“We are continuing to improve and invest in the areas that Ofsted has identified as requiring improvement and will take further action to build on the recent positive progress made by G4S staff at Oakhill.
"Levels of violence, and the use of force on children, have recently reduced. We are continuing work to reduce this further and are pleased to see that Ofsted has recognised the improvement in the oversight of our use of force process."
